Forest of Dean Spring Classic

dodge1302

Moz - really sorry to hear about your problems, how much bad luck can you have in one day? Hopefully you've worn out the bad luck and it'll go smooth for you in the FWC!

Hi Popette, good to hear, I can well imagine it is extremely frustrating, I guess you just need to stay patient and keep cool. You're doing really well and I'm sure you'll get there. Like they say, it's a marathon and not a sprint, so take each day as it comes - plus you have the benefit of a great team behind you, which must help !

Shame you could not make it for the FoD, it was a cracker. Sorry to hear about your husband, it is really easy to do, and something I always used to get wrong, so I now tend to under-dress to start with and make sure I have suitable wind/rain protection with me. Once you've overheated and therefore dehydrated it is almost impossible to come back - even harder than running out of fuel in my experience .

Hope you make it to the GFC and if I see you I'll bob over to say hello to you and Howie and the rest of the C+ guys.

FondoMan

A great ride - my first sportive as a rider after 18 months out of the game. Thoroughly enjoyed it, and thought the organisation on the day was top notch. Plenty of climbing on quiet enough roads and some hairy helter skelter descents to get the pulse racing.

I found myself in a really good bunch, which sped us on our way to around 4.50 finish times - haven't ridden as fast in ages...a real blast through some of those downpours too :twisted:

It was lovely to be riding rather than organising events after such a long break - GFC next for me.

Phil
http://www.devilride.co.uk
http://www.autumnepic.co.uk

howiejmidlands

ANy idea where and when they will post the times? I am anxiously waiting my official time, although i think i was in the 7 hour region.

SteveR_100Milers

howiejmidlands wrote:

Medio Fondo

Do you mean the Cyrmu Gran (Medio) Fondo??
If so thats nearly 3 weeks away, surely you can't rest for that long under this coaching scheme thingy??

howiejmidlands

thats the one SteveR.

Well not exactly feet up rest, so your right. But no sportives until then, so just some Z1 mixed with a little Z2 training, and fasted rides. And i am sure Joe can think up a few more ingenious ways of making me sweat and ride hard. Oh and a few hilly reps of a local hill loop i have.

robbarker

popette wrote:

he felt really rotten, probably due to being really overdressed and overheated.

A lot of people seemed to make that mistake. It was a definite jersey and shorts day, but lots of people were going off in 3/4 tights, long sleeve tops, gilets, you name it.

That's the problem with sportives; the race culture leads to an unwritten rule against luggage beyond a pea size puncture kit, so there's nowhere to stash much more than a cape in your jersey pockets. At least on Audax rides it's perfectly respectable to carry a rackpack!

popette

robbarker wrote:

popette wrote:

he felt really rotten, probably due to being really overdressed and overheated.

A lot of people seemed to make that mistake. It was a definite jersey and shorts day, but lots of people were going off in 3/4 tights, long sleeve tops, gilets, you name it.

That's the problem with sportives; the race culture leads to an unwritten rule against luggage beyond a pea size puncture kit, so there's nowhere to stash much more than a cape in your jersey pockets. At least on Audax rides it's perfectly respectable to carry a rackpack!

yeh, he had his winter fleecy longs on and his winter coat :?
I think it's good that he did the event because he's now realised that he really needs to get his finger out if he's going to finish the Etape.

taffyscouser

Great event and those hills....a skinny riders delight. Saw some people taking a right turn before the Ruardean Climb which cut some of the course off though. It was the T junction with riders coming towards you on the main road. I think the climb was the right one but riders will know what I mean. Congrats to all that organised and rode the event in some interesting weather. Manged a Gold so happy.

kenbaxter

But when are the results up? Work your arse off for 5 hours and lo and behold 3 days later and no results up? How long can it take?! Pass them over and I'll type 'em up!

kenbaxter

robbarker wrote:

That's the problem with sportives; the race culture leads to an unwritten rule against luggage beyond a pea size puncture kit, so there's nowhere to stash much more than a cape in your jersey pockets. At least on Audax rides it's perfectly respectable to carry a rackpack!

???? There are no "unwritten rules", just your ego as to whether you want to go lightweight with stuff in your jersey or not. If you want to carry a bag, carry one! Personally I love riding lightweight but you ride your bike, you make your choice.

Philip Whiteman

taffyscouser wrote:

Great event and those hills....a skinny riders delight. Saw some people taking a right turn before the Ruardean Climb which cut some of the course off though. It was the T junction with riders coming towards you on the main road..

In principle I have no problem with short cutters on such a testing route especially where they found it too testing and decided to reduce the route. Equally, one or two were confused about which way to go. However, I did find it cheeky when I witnessed some of the short cutters boasting how they had achieved gold standard to their friends. On this basis I am going to pay very little attention to the 'achievement' of other riders when looking at the final results.

The an acid test on who short cutted and who did not could be based upon those riders that were covered in muck and those that were not. Unless it was my imagination, the section after Ruardean was filthy. Perhaps I ought to stop on this point, otherwise sportive organisers may go a bit audax and insist upon us using mudguards

ricadus

On this basis I am going to pay very little attention to the 'achievement' of other riders when looking at the final results.

They're only cheating themselves, clinging to the delusion that they were fit enough.

mathi

Were are people getting there times from ? i dont seem to be able to find them :?

bonk man

I think the system has collapsed....... either that or they are sitting in the sunshine drinking a beer [or 2]

samoff

I got my time on the day, by looking at the start time on my little stampy card whilst waiting to get stamped in (oooh those taunting extra seconds) and comparing with the reading on the stampy machine (I'm sure that's what they call it).

I managed 6:52 and was very pleased with myself.

Philip Whiteman

I too saw a number of riders not riding the full distance. However I am reticent to refer to all of them as cheats. The FoD Classic website did promote the point that it only went as far as 20miles from the HQ - this gives the implicit assumptions that riders who found it a struggle could bail out with relative ease. Eg, I met a rider was returning with a dodgy knee and could not complete the route.

There were a number of riders that also took wrong turns; firstly when they left the main feed station, and secondly; turned left instead of right along the road following the Wye. So some may have unintentionally arrived back at base earlier than expected. A member of my club took a wrong turn and was promptly told on the Yat that he was the third fastest over the top - though he did admit all. Another guy turned to me and asked if he was going the right way, when I asked about how many times he had passed the second feed station, he done an about turn.

I have however come across a message board where one rider pronounced his success at obtaining a gold standard. However, I know damn well that he short cutted. So yes, there were short cutters but they were not always cheating.

If or when the Classic post the times, I will pay little attention to the times achieved by other riders. After all, as the entry conditions stated, it was not a race so who cares!

kmahony

Anyone know what the Silver times were?
Surprised they've not published the results yet.

No problem with people cutting corners, but it's gonna make my 6:55 look even slower than it was!!!

mrmo

with all the talk of cutting corners, maybe i should be proud of the extra 5miles i ddi!

robbarker

I bumped into some poor bloke on the loop you did following the first visit to the feed station who had taken the wrong turn at his second feed and gone round again! He must have done 15 extra miles and a thousand feet of climbing..

jhop

I got my time when my card was scanned at the finish.

I was given my finish time and both me and the scanner subtracted one from the other to get the difference ie 6.04.

In the marquee Gold , Silver and Bronze times for the different age groups were listed so for me 50 - 60 this was Gold.

Where are the results I was promised would be on their website?

Anyone know what the delay is all about?

robbarker

I know that a lot of people have commented favourably on the organisation, but I have to say I didn't think it was any more than adequate.

The signage was generally good, with the noteable exception of the feed station, which was simply confusing. (For those that weren't there, there was a feed station that acted as a hub, and the road you took when leaving it was dfferent depending on whether it was you first or second visit)

Showers and timing chips were also promised when signing up and both failed to materialise.

It was also fairly obvious to anyone who knows the Forest that the course designer didn't..

Still, not to decry the efforts of the organisers - it was an enjoyable event and I will probably be back next year. The fee needs to be pegged though, it wasn't that great value for money given the facilities that ended up not being provided. Hopefully a club or charity are the beneficiaries.

mrmo

well results are up, no idea what the standards are though.

FondoMan

It is not a race and there are no prizes etc - so I don't think anyone cutting the route short could be accused of "cheating"...unless they choose to brag about their time of course!! I suspect most short-cuters were either slecting a route that fitted more with their fitness or perhaps were the victims of wrong turns.

Very pleased with 4:51 (full route - honest!) as I cramped beyond belief at Symonds Yat and had to wave my clubmates goodbye...

Thoroughly enjoyed the day - many thanks to the organisers.

howiejmidlands

Where have the results been posted, i can not find them?

narbs

howiejmidlands wrote:

Where have the results been posted, i can not find them?

Click on the entrants tab, all listed by rider number.

howiejmidlands

Thanks Narbs i have my time.

Another idiot question now : where are the certificates/award levels?

I am being a total divvie today

Hugh A

Somebody said earlier that the categories and relevant times wer put up in the finish tent. Unfortunately I didn't get to see them so at the moment no idea what standard I achieved - I have a sneaking suspicion that at 6:31 I have just missed out on something.

Anyone any idea what the time standards by category were?

bonk man

I don't care what time I manage as long as I beat my mates

howiejmidlands

Does anyone know where a 6:52 would put me in the category for a 45 year old male? I did not look at the categories in the tent, i could just focus on my coffee.

dodge1302

Howie, I've just emailed the organiser to see if they can supply me with details. If I hear anything back from them I will post on here and cyclosport with the information.

I know a number of people are interested to see how they faired and I cannot see anything on their website. I must admit to not seeing the standards on the board mainly because I wasn't looking, I'm so used to it be published on the web!

Cross fingers we'll hear something back